Sign Up for Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Health Matters Newsletter

Thanks for signing up!

Are those self-proclaimed health bars that line grocery store and convenience shop shelves actually good for you?

There’s a good chance they’re not—health bar companies tend to add a ton of protein, vitamins, minerals, and fibers to make you think you’re getting the good end of the health equation. But if you look again, they’re also high in sodium and sugar, things we don’t want to be eating in excess.

These nutrition bars seem like a quick and easy healthy snack, but in the end they’re not much better for you than a candy bar.

Instead, keep a small bag of nuts and dried fruit with you when you’re on the go. They offer the same amount of protein, fiber and healthy fats without all the excess sodium and sugar. Many convenient stores and airport stands now offer fresh fruit, yogurt, pre-cut veggies and more as healthier options when you’re on the go. Save the “nutrition bars” for when you’re burning a lot of carbs while on a hiking trip or running long distances.

Anti-Smoking Policies Will Prevent Millions of Deaths

More than 7 million lives will be saved by 2050 due to anti-tobacco policies put into place worldwide, though the United States is lagging on a number of cigarette-related policy changes.

Researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington found that policies such as large tobacco tax hikes, bans on tobacco advertising, and nationwide programs to help smokers quit will all contribute to the millions of lives saved.

But the United States is not one of the countries contributing to these policies.

“The United States is one of the few countries that has not signed on to implement any of these policies,” said Andrew Hyland, PhD, chair of the department of health behavior at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. “The US houses one of the world’s largest tobacco manufacturers, and sometimes more than health issues play a role in signing these agreements.”

Though tax hikes are effective, many lawmakers are reluctant to propose them for fear of not being re-elected. Some individual states, such as New York and Rhode Island, have implemented their own high tobacco taxes.

Depression Ups Stroke Risk in Older Women

Middle-aged women with depression have double the risk of having a stroke than women without the mental disorder, and since women are 70 percent more likely than men to get depression throughout their lives, women are especially vulnerable.

The National Stroke Association estimates that after a person turns 55, their risk for a stroke doubles for every 10 years they’re alive. Aging has always been related to a higher stroke risk, though now there is increasing evidence that depression may play a role as well.

A study in a recent issue of the journal Stroke found that the risk of stroke was nearly two times higher in women with depression, when age and other stroke risk factors were accounted for.

A stroke can also cause depression, because of the potential debilitating effects.

Not Enough Migraine Doctors

There are not enough migraine doctors to go around for the more than 36 million Americans who suffer from migraines.

There are only 416 specialists across the country who are certified by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties to diagnose and treat migraines, according ot a report presented at the International Headache Congress meeting this week. The states with the most doctors include New York (56), California (29), Ohio (29), Texas (25), and Florida (23).

"This is a troubling picture," study leader Dr. Noah Rosen, of the Pain and Headache Center of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, said in a news release. "Migraine is a highly disabling disorder -- the seventh most disabling in the world and the fourth most disabling among women. It's clear that many more specialists need to be trained and certified to meet the need."

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.